Maserati Gran Turismo S

Mr.David

Had one Thursday afternoon - was really looking forward to it. Just thought I'd quickly share my thoughts:

1. Looks fantastic, to my eyes anyway.

2. Interior is a bit poor really. Loads of cheap buttons, confusing lay out and less than convincing quality. For instance the steering wheel squeaks when turning at parking speeds, and the electronic park feature is used to activate the park brake, but I spent ages trying to deactivate it! Turns out theres a seperate "park off" button on the dash - WHY????!!!

3. Start up - Oooohhh what a noise. Really, what a noise. An absolutely fabulous sounding 4.7 V8. Free revving and has a wonderful crackle on the over-run. You could sit there all day just revving it its great.

4. Driving - really quite disappointing. Steering is wooden at low speeds although it does improve as you push on. Everything else however doesnt. The car (in sport mode obviously :P) is very unsettled by any suspension inputs - bumps, crests, camber changes etc when pushing hard and doesnt inspire confidence. The gearbox is probably the worst part of the car - it just slams between gears its super jerky! Embarrassing when you have someone in the passenger seat but its not something you can influence! It has 433bhp, but is a heavy car and as a result is quick but not quick enough. It really needs another 75-100bhp to make it fast. The brakes are capable, but lack initial bite and take some getting used to as a result.

Also, some of the exterior build quality is poor - shut lines not even, underflush panels on one side and overflush the far side, massively different glass curvature side to side etc.

So, overall it was a bit poo. Wonderfully characterful and full of soul and passion but not so capable. Compared to my reference point - Jag XKR (326K GBP cheaper) its no where near as fast or as well built or set up, but certainly looks and sounds much better.

Its like a big breasted bimbo. Not technically up to much - but hey, everybody still wants a go

Did I mention the noise the V8 makes? :cool:

unkel

Nice review, although I would have preferred to find out it is crap after a substantial test drive myself

Mr.David wrote: »

the electronic park feature is used to activate the park brake, but I spent ages trying to deactivate it! Turns out theres a seperate "park off" button on the dash - WHY????!!!

Isn't that the case with most electronic / foot parking brakes? It certainly was with my '96 E38. The release lever was in the dash just right of the steering wheel.

pburns

I've seen one in the flesh around Grand Canal Dock.

Gorgeous, but just too big to be enjoyable or chuckable. Yes, yes...I know it's a traditional GT in the old school style and that the Ferrari brand has the sports car thing covered but all that road space taken up for just a 2+2 coupe seems senseless to me.

As a trans-European express a 530d would be much better, I'd wager...

waxon-waxoff

Seen that white one around last night. Thats been here for ages but still on UK plates. IMO it looks better than a DB9, any of them i ever see are in boring grey.

Voodoomelon

What year was the Gran Turismo? It seems all of Maserati gearboxes are sh1te and the cars are overly heavy, especially considering the questionable quality of the trim and fitment.

Mr.David

It was a 2009 car, with all the extras.

The park brake - everything I've driven that has an elec park brake has a small lever beside the gearlever that you pull up to engage and push down to disengage the brake. You could pull up the Maserati one, but not push it down. Instead there was a poxy small button on the dash for disengaging it

Yeah the gearbox was pants. It would be so much better if it had a proper box.

I still can't stop thinking about the car though. I really liked it. Why?!

Damn!

bladespin

Mr.David wrote: »

I still can't stop thinking about the car though. I really liked it. Why?!

Damn!

The curse of the Italians, their bikes are the same, Jap bikes offer more in every department (bar charachter maybe) but once you've sat on one you'll still want it , it's not fair!

rusty_racer94

The thing I don't like about Maserati's in general is the bone rattling flappy pedal gearbox.

-Chris-

rusty_racer94 wrote: »

The thing I don't like about Maserati's in general is the bone rattling flappy pedal gearbox.

You've experienced that in other models?

Matt Simis

pburns wrote: »

Gorgeous, but just too big to be enjoyable or chuckable. Yes, yes...I know it's a traditional GT in the old school style and that the Ferrari brand has the sports car thing covered but all that road space taken up for just a 2+2 coupe seems senseless to me.

As a trans-European express a 530d would be much better, I'd wager...

The 635d (or the petrol models) are the direct BMW comparison, though much cheaper than the M-GT.

VWs answer, and most likely as flawed in the chuckable sense but likely excelling everywhere else is:


Was it not for the fact its too successful and its now asscociated with rappers and footballers, it would be a classy alternative.

rusty_racer94

-Chris- wrote: »

You've experienced that in other models?

Just in the Coupe.

-Corkie-

rusty_racer94 wrote: »

Just in the Coupe.

Have you the coupe??

rusty_racer94

-Corkie- wrote: »

Have you the coupe??

No..It was my neighbour's, I'm only 17 on provisional.

-Corkie-

rusty_racer94 wrote: »

No..It was my neighbour's, I'm only 17 on provisional.

Oh. Nice neighbour to have though..:cool:

qz

The amount of fanny you'd get swanning around in one of these!

rusty_racer94

-Corkie- wrote: »

Oh. Nice neighbour to have though..:cool:

That's not all, Here is one of the rest.


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